Skin allergies in dogs: Causes & treatments

Being a pet owner means being prepared for medical problems and unforseen emergencies. The best way to be financially prepared is by purchasing a pet insurance policy. When pet owners have cat or dog insurance, they are ensuring their pet can receive swift attention.

One medical condition pet owners need to be on the lookout for are skin allergies. pet health phenomenons of allergies in dogs is a mysterious ailment that can be caused by numerous conditions and events.

As mentioned, a pet insurance policy can help to alleviate the financial strain that comes with emergency pet health situations. A trip to the veterinarian is always in order when any of the following symptoms of dog skin allergies are observed:

Possible causes of allergies in dogs include:Yeast Infections of the Skin
Rashes that become thick, crusty, and odorous could be yeast infections. Like bacteria, yeast is normally found on the skin, but an allergy or immune deficiency can cause the yeast to grow out of control.

Food Allergies
It’s not uncommon for dogs to develop food allergies, especially to grains. Symptoms can include biting of the limbs, ear infections, and scratching at the face.

Fleas & Parasites
Fleas don’t always just itch. Many dogs are allergic to those flea bites—especially dogs who already have a suppressed immune system or other allergies. In another Pet Health Library article by Brooks titled Food Allergies, she wrote, “Because allergies add to each other, it is possible that a food allergic dog will not itch if its fleas are controlled.”

A dog that suffers from these conditions may require numerous trips to a veterinarian to determine the cause and best course of treatment—a cost which can be offset with pet insurance. Pet owners should have observations ready for the vet’s questions so that a cause & treatment may be determined. Possible treatments may be as simple as a change in diet and avoidance of irritants, or as detailed as steroid injections, antihistamines and ointments.

Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company,
a Delaware insurance company. Independence American Insurance Company is a member of The IHC Group, an organization of insurance carriers and
marketing and administrative affiliates that has been providing life, health, disability, medical stop-loss and specialty insurance solutions
to groups and individuals for over 30 years. For information on The IHC Group, visit: http://www.ihcgroup.com.